Camas Little League Concludes 2013 Regular Season

CAMAS — With more than 550 kids playing on 40 teams, the Camas Little League regular 2013 season officially came to an end on Saturday with the pomp and circumstance that comes with celebration of a sport beloved by millions.

The season concluded with Closing Ceremonies, (hosted by league president Doug Vaughan) which began with the singing of the National Anthem as the upper division teams gathered on the East field at Forest Home Park. Trophies were presented to first and second place teams from their respective divisions.

 

The upper division teams of Camas Little League attended
Closing Ceremonies on Saturday at Forest Home Park.

 

Camas Little League
Teams await announcements at Closing Ceremonies.

The Majors division league champions were the Yankees (12-3), followed by second place A’s (11-4). The Mariners, who won the division tournament, placed third in league (11-4). The AAA Rangers, who won both league and the division tournament, were followed by the Mariners.

Camas Little League
The Camas Flame earned first place in their division.

In softball, the Camas Flame won the Minors division, and they were followed by the Vipers.

The All-Star teams for the Majors, AAA and Minors Softball teams were also announced. Games begin in two weeks. For a list of All-Star teams and their managers/coaches, please go to this link: www.CamasLL.com

In all there are nine divisions in the league: Juniors, 50/70, Majors, AAA, AA, A, T-ball, Minors Softball and Pee Wee Softball.

The league, which was founded more than 60 years ago, continues to thrive — and this year changed its name once again — from Lacamas Little League to Camas Little League.

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Camas Little League AAA Rangers Win Division

The Rangers continued their winning streak, beating the Mariners, 8-5, in a good game that saw some odd plays and fun times for the Little Leaguers.

The Rangers started with Kandai Shimada on the mound. Shimada, whose steadfast and focused pitching helped secure his team’s top placement weeks ago, struggled a bit and gave up a couple runs early on. The Mariners, for their part, hit well, and made some good defensive plays.

Miller was relieved by Tyler Renteria.

The Rangers’ Shimada was relieved by Kyle Hunt, who did a solid job. Offensively, the Rangers found their bats late in the game and secured their victory, winning 8-5.

The Rangers, coached by John Blair, Kris Jamison and Brad Pershing, struggled in the semi-finals on Thursday against the Cardinals and fell behind 13-8 in the fifth inning — only to rally 13 runs in a single inning.

The “littles” as Blair calls his youngest players (Zach Blair, Luke Jamison and Aaron Geigenmiller) carried that game as Jamison played behind the plate, and Blair and Geigenmiller pitched. Geigenmiller closed the game, and “I think he’s the only 8-year-old to have a win in a semi-final game,” said Coach Blair.

The Rangers won that game, 21-16, which brought them to Saturday’s finals.

 

Rangers Win
The AAA Rangers won the league and tournament championship.

The Mariners, coached by Jerry Burnett, Curt Renteria and Jay McGuire, placed second in league and in the tournament.

The AAA Mariners placed second in league and in the tournament
championship. The team was managed by Jerry Burnett.

 

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Wounded Warriors Fight to the End; Mariners Beat Yankees in Camas Little League Majors Championship Tournament

Camas Little League held its final day of regular season events culminating in the Majors Championship Finals at 5 pm Saturday between the Yankees and Mariners.

The Mariners (11-4) faced No. 1 seed Yankees (12-3) for the annual event, with the victor earning bragging rights as best in the league. The Mariners quickly put one run on the board as lead batter Christian Geigenmiller earned a base hit and was advanced by his teammates.

Majors Mariners
The 2013 Camas Little League Majors Champions — the Mariners.

 

Mariners pitcher Christian Geigenmiller slides into home, giving the
Mariners their first run of the championship game.

The Yankees, who started with Drew Ott, quickly responded at the bottom of the first and earned three runs early in the game. The rest of the game was a battle royale pitting two solid offensive and defensive teams. Both teams played a good, clean game.

The Mariners started with Christian Geigenmiller, who pitched few innings, as several fans questioned a number of behind-the-plate calls. The intensity of the game was palatable.

Christian Geigenmiller was injured as he tried to cover home as Jefferson Jackson successfully scored. The two collided as Geigenmiller tried to get the out. He limped along in the heat for the remainder of the game.

The Yankees relieved Ott after a couple of innings and closed with Shane Jamison, who threw a mean fastball. Jamison pegged Mariners hitter Jake Blair in the helmet, and also seriously hit Eli Ferres in the shin. Ferres was down for a couple of minutes until he limped to first base. Then Jordan Geigenmiller was hit in the lower back by a wild pitch.

“It still hurts pretty bad,” said Jordan, a few hours after the game.

The Yankees held onto their three-run lead until Mariners hitter Zach Terry broke the game loose in the fourth inning with two runners on base. He cranked it out to deep center-right where it bounced and went over the fence. The two runners scored and tied the game 3-3. Because the ball hopped over the fence, Terry was limited to two bases.

“I think he was just happy he didn’t get hit by the ball,” joked Kevin Terry, Zach’s dad. “The look on his face as he rounded second was priceless. I don’t think he knew what happened.”

 

Zach Terry
Zach Terry’s double brought in two runs to the game 3-3. Here he is
rounding second base after his hit, which changed the game.

Then Jordan Geigenmiller’s brilliant bunt advanced a runner, putting the Mariners ahead 4-3, where the score would remain.

Josh Mansur did an excellent job closing for the Mariners, and limited Jamison, the league’s home run king to base hits.

“It feels really good,” said Jeff Mansur, Mariners Manager. “The boys earned this — and they’ve worked hard all season.”

Wounded Baseball Player
Mariners hitter Eli Ferres was hit in the shin.

 

Majors Yankees
The Yankees pose for a picture after receiving their second place medals.

 

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Showtime U16 Junior Prep Baseball Team Places 3rd at Tourney

Epharata, Wash. — The local Showtime U16 Junior Prep baseball team won four out of five games over the Memorial Day weekend against upper division teams while contending with some injuries.

“Most of the players on our team can pitch but this weekend all of our pitchers did great,” said second baseman, Jace Bolton. “In five games we only used three relievers throughout the tournament — and one only had to pitch two pitches to finish off a game.”

Showtime catchers made some of the best plays of the tournament.

“They beat most of the runners by three or four steps,” he added. “Also we had a couple diving catches in the outfield saving a couple run from scoring, which could have been used to beat us in the long run.”

Catcher Jarret Brown hurt his hamstring but he finished the inning by throwing out a runner trying to steal second.

Their only loss was to Pasco Sun Devils, 8-6, in the semi-finals, which was their toughest  competition, says Bolton. They placed third in the tournament.

SHOWTIME
The local U16 Showtime Junior Prep baseball team is comprised
of local players from multiple high schools.


Showtime baseball teams travel throughout the season to local and far away tournaments.

This U16 Showtime team is comprised of the following players: Chase Lariza, Phillip Kassab, Zach Pfeifer, Josh Palmquist, Riley Betcher, Logan Finley, Jordan Mambaje, Jarrett Brown, Kordell Vasbinder, Parker Randle, Vince Morta, Liam Fitzpatrick, Jace Bolton, Jackson Wagner, RJ Quirante, Austin Cline, and Trevor Wharton

Showtime Junior Prep player Trevor Wharton.


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Camas Barbers Place 3rd at Bend Elks Tourney

Camas Barbers
Camas Barbers traveling team placed third at Bend Elks
Memorial Day Tournament. Photo by Becca Blair.

Bend, Ore. — It was a big baseball weekend for Camas baseball fans with multiple tournaments happening in several towns in two states, and the Camas Barbers took part in the fun.

The team, coached by John Blair, Barry Smith, and Brian Sanville, entered the Bend Elks Memorial Day Tournament for the second year in a row. Last year, they won their division championship and came home with first place trophies. There were familiar faces this year, but most of the team has changed.

Luke Jamison
Luke Jamison slides safely into home.

The boys started off the tourney Saturday morning against Idaho, and lost a close game, 6-5, as we previously reported. They continued playing on Sunday — against Corvallis and Bend, and won both games handily.

Sunday’s wins lead the boys to play in the quarter-finals on Memorial Day against the Eugene Dirt Bags, in which they won 10-0. In the semi-finals, the Camas Barbers played a hard-fought game with Gig Harbor, and lost 6-4.Blair was hoping for a re-match with Idaho in the Championship game.

“Their coach told me they haven’t lost a game in two years, and we were their best competition to-date,” said Blair. “I wanted another crack at that. It was a great weekend and our 10U boys are coming back with a third place trophy.  Twenty-two teams from Oregon, Idaho and Washington were present.“

The Camas Barbers roster consists of: Zach Blair, Caleb Shira, Braden Sanville, Cameron Miller, Caden Werlich, Cameron Smith, Luke Jamison, Zachariah Shaw, Jake Blair, and Hayden Peterson.

All the boys play for separate Camas Little League teams. Traveling to tournaments is a great way for the boys to experience more baseball, said Coach Blair.

Caden Verlieh
Caden Werlich competes at Bend.

 

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Skyview Star Swimmer Bugna Looks Back

VANCOUVER, Wash. — Skyview senior Eric Bugna has had a stellar swimming career, and as he sees his high school years coming to a quick end, he talks about his journey while looking forward to his future — which includes swimming for the University of Redlands, in Southern California.

“I have swam since I was 7 years old but I started club swimming at age 12,” said Bugna. “I love the individuality of the sport but I also love that although you’re swimming for your own times, your places add up to help your team.

When I was 16 I was selected as part of the Oregon zone team and placed top 5 at that meet from swimmers all over the western half of the nation. Also being able to qualify and place at state all four years of my high school experience has been great.”

During that time, Bugna has also kept his grades up and continues to be in the National Honor Society.

This fall, Bugna will be moving south to the University of Redlands, where he will be swimming at the collegiate level.

“I received scholarships based on my swimming and academics,” he added. “A total 75 percent of my college is paid for. It’s great!”

Bugna says he really enjoys club swimming the most. 

Eric Bugna
Bugna finishes an event at State 4A Prelims.

“Most of us are on the same level so swimming with them is really fun because we can race and train hard together,” he said. “High School swimming is very fun because a lot of my friends are on it and it’s kind of funny to watch all the people who try out thinking it’s easy, and end up having a hard time. It’s a really great sport. Swimming has taught me to be self determined and how to work with others.”

Bugna said goodbye to high school swimming in February, where he competed at State and made it to the podium.

Bugna still competes for Columbia River Swim Team (CRST), where he’s coached by Darlene Hill and Doug Lumbard. His high school coach is Ron Heidenreich.

“I want to thank them all for keeping my love for the sport and motivating me to become the swimmer I am today,” he said. “My friend Kienen, Matt, Jake, all from high school were my best friends on the team and I’d like to acknowledge Lucas Ulmer, Kasey Calwell and Chris Xue for being awesome training buddies at club practices.”

Eric Bugna
Bugna at State competing against friend, Lucas Ulmer.

 

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Fuel Wins West Linn Memorial Day Tourney

Camas Fuel

West Linn, Ore. — The Camas Fuel traveling baseball team won the West Linn Memorial Day Tournament Monday night at Fields Bridge Park.

The newly-formed Camas team (5-0 at the tournament), coached by Brendan Ford, Doug Williams, and Jeff Mansur, played West Linn in the championship game, and won 7-3.

With one out at the top of the sixth inning, Fuel’s third baseman Jack Latimer made a double play, tagging the runner out at third and then decisively threw the ball to second baseman, Camden Ford who got the final out.

Carson Williams pitched five successful innings and Josh Mansur closed for the Fuel. The team consists of local baseball players, several of whom have played together since T-ball and Pee Wee days.

“The boys all played well together,” said Brendan Ford. “They all know how to play their positions, and we moved the kids around during the tournament. We had a great weekend. It was fun and we’re real proud of the kids.”

Doug Williams concurred.

“These kids know the sport, and they’ve been coached well over the years,” said Williams. “It’s a great group of kids.”

 

 

 

The Camas Fuel roster this weekend included:

  • Camden Ford
  • Grant Heiser
  • Jacob Trupp
  • Rylan Marshall
  • Billy Schuldt
  • Zach Convey
  • Josh Mansur
  • Jack Latimer
  • Christian Geigenmiller
  • Dante Humble
  • Carson Williams

 

Camden Ford
Camden Ford’s last at-bat of the tournament weekend.
Camas Fuel
Moments after winning the Championship.

 

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Camas Softball Loses to Arlington at State Finals

YAKIMA, Wash. — It was a hard-fought game pitting the state’s top two high school Varsity softball teams, Camas and Arlington, Saturday night in the State Finals.

Arlington won the game 2-1 at the bottom of the seventh inning in a game that saw some amazing plays, including an Arlington outfield catch that denied Camas a home run in …the fifth inning that would have tied the game.

Second baseman Lena Richards dove to catch a line drive past first base, and there was amazing pitching by Harli Hubbard.

“Camas had an excellent season,” said Papermaker fan Chris Wengler, who watch the game live via online streaming. “They have nothing to be ashamed of. They fought to the very last out and played well. It was a battle of powerhouses in the State.”

This caps an end to a stellar 2013 Papermaker season, in which Camas won league and placed second in Bi-Districts.

More to come.

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Camas Barbers Fall to Idaho 6-5 in First Round of Bend Tourney

BEND, Ore. — The Camas Barbers U10 baseball team fell 6-5 to Idaho in the first round of the Bend Elks Memorial Day Tournament in a hard-fought battle.

The traveling Idaho team hasn’t lost a game in two years and said the Camas team, which is comprised of Camas Little League players, had given them the best competition to date.

Visiting Camas was behind 6-1 at the top of the sixth inning and rallied with four additional runs, thanks to a couple walks and base hits by Jake Blair and Luke Jamison.

Jamison fired off a hit with two outs and tried to get a double, but it wasn’t meant to be, as he was tagged out by Idaho’s second baseman.

The Camas boys continue play throughout the weekend, and are one of several teams competing in Bend and West Linn. The Camas Barbers team is coached by John Blair.

Andy Ott is coaching the U11 Camas Reds traveling team, who begin their first game Saturday at 3 pm in Bend.

Brendan Ford is coaching a U12 Camas Fuel traveling team, and they are currently playing in West Linn. Meanwhile, the Camas U13 Babe Ruth team, coached by Joe Gaudio, won their first tournament game in the Bend Elks Tournament.

More details to come.

 

Bend Elks Tournament
Jake Blair scores his team’s fifth run Saturday morning.

 

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CHS Varsity Softball Advances to State Finals

The Camas Varsity Softball team beat Woodenville (defending State Champions) Saturday morning, 2-0, in the Semi-Finals and advance to the State Championship game today at 5 pm.

Papermaker Harli Hubbard pitched a three-hitter while second baseman Lena Richards hit a triple in the fourth to lead off. Then Mackenzie Farnham hit a deep sacrificial fly bringing Richards home.

Camas held its 1-0 lead until the seventh.

“We had come by a few sticky situations but no runs,” said Richards. “Rio Smith cut off a base hit to stop a runner at thrid. Then in the seventh Cailyn Grindy got walked, Amee had a bunt. I got an infield single and Mackenzie got a base hit RBI into right. We were up 2-0. Erin got a hit but no more runs. We held them in the bottom to win.”

The Papermakers play Arlington today at 5 pm. The game will be streamed live online at www.wiaa.com

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